Cookbooks published by community organizations are treasures in the cupboards of serious homemakers.
Those cookbooks contain taste-tested recipes, tested on friends and family members before being offered for publication using the family name. The ingredients are recognizable and usually available in the local grocery store.
One such book in my possession contains recipes submitted by a friend whose contributions to potluck suppers were always eagerly awaited. She had a knack for combining unusual ingredients to produce a memorable meal.
This week’s recipes were three of her recipes used for community gatherings.
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Sweet Potato and Banana Casserole
4 lbs. sweet potatoes
1 tsp. salt
6 medium bananas
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsps. butter or margarine
Scrub potatoes. Place in large saucepan with salt and add boiling water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain, peel and slice potatoes into 1/4 inch slices.
Peel and slice bananas into 1/4 inch slices. Toss banana slices with the orange juice then drain off the juice and set aside.
In a separate bowl mix brown sugar and cinnamon.
In a large, greased casserole dish arrange 1/3 of the potato slices. Top with half the banana slices. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the sugar mixture. Dot with 1/3 of the butter.
Layer another 1/3 of the potato slices and the last of the banana slices. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the sugar mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 of the sugar mixture. Dot with butter. Top with the remaining potato slices and sprinkle the last of the sugar mixture. Pour the orange juice over the top.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes.
• • •
Turnip Apple Casserole
1 large turnip
1 tbsp. butter
2 apples
1/4 cup brown sugar
pinch of cinnamon
Crust:
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbsps. butter
Peel, cube and cook turnip in boiling water. Mash with butter.
Peel and slice apples then toss with brown sugar and cinnamon.
In a greased casserole, arrange turnips and apples in alternate layers, beginning and ending with the turnips.
To make the crust, combine ingredients into a crumbling mixture and pat on top of turnips.
Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour. Serve with pork chops or roast beef.
• • •
Three Bean Hot Dish
1 tbsp. cooking oil
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup bacon, chopped and fried
1 can lima beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can pork and beans
1/2 cup ketchup
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
Brown ground beef, onion and bacon in oil. Add beans. Mix then add ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and salt. Mix then place in a greased casserole and cover. Bake at 325 degrees F for 60 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
